Scared Bundles
- Treasured objects which were supposed greatly to influence the destiny
of the tribes that owned them. A type of tribal "medicine," they
were carefully guarded and sometimes prayer and even sacrifice were made
to them. They were shown publicly only on important occasions.
many times these bundles were carried into battle to insure victory.

When the Cherokees' sacred box was captured
by the Delaware, they believed bad luck came to them. The sacred
metal plates, which the Creek Indians claimed they received from a god,
were said to have been given out a miraculous ringing sound at times without
being touched.

The taimé, of the Kiowa,
a small stone bust of a man, decorated with down feathers and with images
of the sun and the moon crescent painted on its breast, is said still to
exist. It was kept in a parfleche container and shown only once a
year at Sun Dance.

The Cheyenne treasured a scared bundle
which contained a hat made from the hide and hair of a buffalo cow, and
four arrows - two for hunting and two for war. these objects, which
were carried into battle, the Cheyenne claimed were given them by their
Supreme Being. However, when the Pawnee captured this scared bundle,
the keeper manufactured four more "medicine arrows" to replace those lost.
This was believed to have been done with the consent of their god.

Among the Arapaho Indians a "flat pipe"
was treasured, as well as an ear of corn and a stone turtle. They
believed they had had this scared bundle since the beginning of the world.
it was said never to have touched the ground, and when moving it the priest
in charge had to carry it on his back if he were mounted, as it could not
even touch his horse.